Family Medical Leave Act Services in Short Pump (Henrico, VA)
Family Medical Leave Act or FMLA provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that their group health benefits be maintained during the leave.
FMLA is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons.
FMLA applies to all public agencies and to private companies with 50 or more employees. These employers must provide an eligible employee with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for any of the following reasons:
- for the birth and care of the newborn child of an employee;
- for placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care;
- to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
- to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.
FMLA and Mental Health
Behavioral health conditions such as depression and anxiety are qualifiable medical conditions. The decision to recommend that an individual take a leave of absence from work is a complicated one. There are impacts to both the individual such as income loss and changes to routine. Employers have the challenge of ensuring that an employees work load is managed during his/her absence. When an employee requests FMLA leave due to his or her own serious health condition or a covered family member’s serious health condition, the employer may require certification in support of the leave from a health care provider
Thriveworks Henrico Counselors and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are trained to help you or a loved one navigate the process. It could be that a healthcare provider such as a Primary Care Physician has recommended that you access FMLA benefits and referred you to counseling for follow up care. Your employer may have noticed a significant decrease in your performance and recommended some type of Employee Assistance. You could also find that you are having debilitating symptoms preventing you from either attending, staying at work or performing job related responsibilities. Any of these circumstances might prompt exploration of the appropriateness of Family Medical Leave. Some life events that often interfere will day to day functioning including work performance include:
- panic attacks
- social phobias
- grief and bereavement related to the death of a loved one
- exposure to a traumatic event such as a violent crime or automobile accident
- depression or anxiety related to the diagnosis of a serious health condition
What To Expect
Your Thriveworks Henrico Counselor or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will meet with you at length to assess your medical, mental health, family and social history. As evaluation of the symptoms you are experiencing will also be conducted. This will include a review of any immediate life circumstances that may be contributing to your symptoms. A determination can then be made if a diagnosable behavioral health condition exists and if the symptoms and treatment require that you be out of work temporarily. Your treatment Clinician will develop a plan of care and make follow up recommendations. These recommendations will be shared with other involved professionals, including your Primary Care Physician. If clinically indicated the appropriate FMLA paperwork will be completed and submitted to your employer for review. Ultimately, only your employer can make the decision to grant or deny a FMLA request.
Most importantly, you will have taken the first step in recovering from your symptoms and returning to a balanced personal and work life. Call today and let Thriveworks Henrico FMLA Counselors help get you back on the road to wellness.
